Digital Planning Lead

Are you looking to join a high-performance experienced team, whose ambition is to be the most distinctive and admired data driven, Digital Planning team in the UK? This is your opportunity to accelerate our clients digital and data transformation strategy, whilst developing our Digital Planning IP within Wavemaker. This role will suit candidates with deep digital or performance marketing expertise, with a strong track record of quality and innovation in implementational planning or activation. The role is stretching, giving candidates responsibility for the advancement of a client group's whole Digital marketing output and the fitness of our operating model to deliver this. In this role, you will:

• Lead the audit of our clients digital maturity, through the WM-Operating System and Digital Maturity Framework, delivering a set of indicators and actions, that drive growth and ensure our clients are future-fit.
• Have control of the overall digital channel investment and ensure WM commercial considerations are taken into account.
• Work with Wavemaker product owners and with Data Partners, to ensure the right capabilities and technology are in place on the account to advance Digital marketing.
• Collaborate with the Data & Tech teams, as well as identify new opportunities to advance our clients through the suite of Digital Analytics solutions.
• Work 'upstream' with Strategy & Planning to ensure outputs from Provocative Planning are translated into credible Digital marketing approaches.
• Work 'downstream' with Platform Leads and Nexus Activation teams to ensure that the Digital channel approaches are activated with rigour and innovation.
• Ensure that all Digital channels are fully integrated into weekly/monthly client updates and meetings (this includes Ecommerce, Affiliates, and OneSearch : PPC & SEO).
• Support a 'fluid' way of working with Platform activation resource within each client hub.
• Be accountable to the Client Managing Directors (CMDs), Digital Planning Partner and Head of Channel Planning for the timely, high-quality delivery of Digital marketing on the account.
• Adopt Agile workflow principles - visualising and valuing work, whilst prioritising tasks with the relevant Platform Leads and activation specialists.
• Working on new business pitches and bringing the strongest Digital solutions to our pitch RFI, RFP and presentations.
Core skills:
• Client Partnering and Consulting with Agency knowledge
+ Establishes working relationships with key Digital stakeholders and builds rapport to become a trusted advisor. Seeks to anticipate stakeholders' needs. Identifies strategic issues and raises questions to help stakeholders explore and understand their wider business challenges. Can easily suggest business solutions to match client/stakeholder needs and achieve objectives. + Has in-depth understanding of agency and client and their business goals and challenges. Builds a working knowledge of digital market trends affecting the client (and agency).
• Digital Channel Strategic thinking and Planning
+ Demonstrates an interest in client challenges by asking relevant questions and helps to gather insights to help aid digital planning. Follows instructions to meet client needs but is prepared and confident to challenge briefs. Builds digital case studies and gathers insights on clients to support the team and share learnings. Demonstrates understanding of digital campaign optimization strategies and how to meet key performance indicators. Uses big picture and critical thinking in day-to-day role, flagging and escalating potential issues in client work to team members. + Applies advanced data analytics to understand client challenges and presents insights to relevant stakeholders. Is resourceful in finding other relevant data sources where available (third party data, existing client data) and can develop ways in which data can be activated across multiple digital channels. Applies high level and strategic thinking in a provocative way when working with clients and third parties to achieve desired outcomes.
• Technical Knowledge of Products and Technical Communication skills
+ Demonstrates a thorough understanding of Xaxis, Nexus and Finecast products and services and tailors' solutions to meet the unique needs of the client/agency as part of a digital strategy. Coaches' others within the digital planning community and the wider agency in building their knowledge. Can discuss all digital channels, products and opportunities with confidence and can apply this knowledge to meet client/agency needs.
• Commercial Acumen
+ Tracks targets and profitability for the overall business and optimizes means to ensure profitable delivery across all digital channels for set clients. Ensures team understanding and 100% compliance with finance process and GroupM policies and procedures. Supports the client MD and wider agency to provide accurate spend forecasts to the business. Owns the overall financial process, working with nexus activation teams and continues to improve it to reduce the number of financial queries and issues. Utilizes knowledge of the business and financial impact of decisions/solutions to drive high-impact projects that support the organization and contribute to financial performance. Ensures client digital deal points and savings negotiation requirements are met, including buying terms and conditions, viewability, ad fraud, brand safety, cost savings, etc.
• Industry Knowledge
+ Demonstrates advanced understanding and curiosity about the Digital industry by remaining current on leading trends and interacting with industry stakeholders. Serves as an expert on industry/adjacent industry issues, including trends, competition, challenges, or concepts; and provides guidance and expertise on unique situations. Uses expert Digital knowledge to guide and agency and client innovation roadmap working with both internal and external key stakeholders.
• Ideas Creation
+ Examines new ideas of solutions, methods and products to ensure the potential and alignment with departmental and business goals. Coaches others to gain new insights and view opportunities from different perspectives.

Wavemaker is a global media agency. We believe there is a better way to grow. By leveraging our deep understanding of audiences, Provocative Planning process and the world's largest database of purchase journeys, we deliver exceptional growth for clients including Audible, Nationwide, Danone, Asahi and Morrisons. Unlike traditional linear media planning, our modular approach combines machine learning and human intelligence to unlock, maximise and transform growth for the world's leading brands and businesses. A part of GroupM, WPP's global media investment management company, our 7,650 people across 88 markets are defined by their attitude of positive provocation, which means:
• deep knowledge of our clients' business
• the confidence to challenge what's gone before
• the support to go further than we thought possible.
Discover more at wavemakerglobal.com/uk or follow us @WavemakerUK. We are an equal opportunities employer and support the life choices of our employees All GroupM agencies are equal opportunities employers and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, gender identity, disability, culture/religion/belief, sexual orientation, or age. We support the life choices of our employees, offering generous family and carer friendly policies.